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Mitsubishi Outlander
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Comments
from Japan.
My question is: Has anyone out there encountered this problem and if so, do you have a recommendation for an interim solution?
Thank you in advance.
Luat
Steve, Host
Exterior
Well, it certainly is distinctive. The Outlander is meant to compete with the Subaru Outback and Outback Sport, and while none of these cars are going to win any styling or design awards, the Outlander is just plain odd in places. The nose, specifically; I know that it shares design elements with other vehicles in Mitsubishi’s line up, but let me tell you, Jimmy Durante didn’t have a schnoz like that. Once you can get past that (if you can get past that), the rest of the shape is pretty inoffensive. Nothing real ground breaking, just nice, clean lines. The XLS model we drove has the clear tail light treatment that is all the rage these days; the LS trim level has red tail light surrounds. Another difference between the LS and the XLS is that the XLS has darkened rear windows; the LS has just a bit of tinting. The proportions between the upper and lower body, however, does look slightly odd, like the place where torsos and heads are meant to go don’t have enough room, at least when compared to the place where lower parts of the human body are.
Strangely, my wife, who normally does not like white as a vehicle color (along with red and black) actually did not mind the white of our test vehicle. According to her, there is enough gray colored body cladding on the front and rear bumpers to break up the monotony of the primary color of the car. Other colors available are a bright blue, a darker blue, a moss green, charcoal, silver and burgundy. Interior colors are charcoal or tan, cloth or leather.
Interior
The interior of the Outlander didn’t scream “econobox” to me, which is a good start. Many cars these days have very generic, plastic looking interiors that I’m sure wear like iron but just don’t exude any pizzazz. Like the exterior, the interior is a lot of rehashed ideas, with one or two items that jump out; some good, some not so good.
The driving position is nice; the drivers’ seat adjusts 10 ways, so it is not too hard to get a comfortable position behind the wheel. The steering wheel only adjusts up and down, but both my wife and I were able to make it work (when you are 5ft 11in and your spouse is 5 ft 3in, that isn’t always as easy as you think). The instrument panel is simple and easy to read, with white-faced gauges that are also quite trendy at the moment. The only real gripe I have is with the stereo, which looks like something from the 80’s. The sound is nice, but it only has a single CD (a 6-CD changer is a dealer installed accessory). Another throwback element is the analog clock (you remember, the kind with hands?), which is in a prominent position right in the middle of the dash. Storage bins are adequate, but if you have smaller children, you might find that there aren’t enough places to put all the small things you find you need.
The rear seat is not too bad; not limo-like, but not cruel and unusual punishment for the rear seat passengers, either. The rear seats are split 60/40, and fold flat without having to do anything to the bottom cushions. There is a fold down armrest in the rear seat. The space behind the rear seats is larger than one might first expect, with an innovative trick that I would like to see duplicated by other manufacturers: under the rear floor, there is a space for the privacy cover to be stored when it is not being used. Quite slick!
Driving Impressions
The test drive was quite short – maybe 10 or 15 minutes total. As my wife will primarily drive the vehicle, I spent only a few of those minutes behind the wheel.
The Outlander comes with only one engine and transmission choice – a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine that makes 160HP, with a 4 speed automatic transmission. Again, this compares to the Outback and Outback Sport, which has a 2.5 liter, 1645HP 4-cylinder. However, the Subaru’s are available with a 5-speed manual transmission as well. In the Outlander, this engine and transmission combine to make an OK amount of thrust. The test drive loop we were taken on was deserted business parks, not the open 2-lane roads and highways that my wife and I normally drive.
With that being said, it is hard to determine if the car has enough “get out of its own way” power a longer test drive may be in order. Given the test drive conditions, it wasn’t too bad. Transmission shifts were smooth and unobtrusive. Ride and handling seem to be as good as, if not better than, most of the “cute utes” (RAV4, VUE, Escape/Tribute twins, et al) – the Outlander has a much lower center of gravity, and seems more car-like in these respects. The ground clearance is nice, and the car rides high enough to offer great visibility.
Final Thoughts
The test drive really was not long enough to do a thorough evaluation of the car, but if first impressions are anything to go by, the Outlander seemed to do well. My wife was suitably impressed to keep it on her short list, and I have to say that, while I wasn’t overwhelmed, it is a nice little car with a few features that make it good for all weather capability. The Outlander also comes with a decent warranty, which may be an important factor to some folks. Price wise, our test vehicle, which was pretty much fully loaded (ABS is the other option our car had, along with the leather package), came in just under $25,000, which really isn’t too bad considering all you get for the price.
It is still too early to make a final decision. As I pointed out, the biggest concern that we have is the lack of HP -- 160 may not be enough when one lives at 6000'. Other possibilities include the Saturn VUE (250), the Ford Escape (200) or the Subaru Forester XT (217).
But, there were some nice qualities about the Outlander as well.
I bought a XLS 2wd with sunroof, infinity stereo, leather and abs. The vehicle was a steal with the 2000 dollar rebate and another 500 dollars for being a recent collage graduate. The Outlander is defiantly a step up from my Chevy s10.
Engine-
I drove the 4wd and 2wd and found the 2wd has noticeably more power. I live in California and would only need 4wd up in the hills during storms and those days I usually stay at home. I don’t find the acceleration bad at all. My wife’s car is a Mazda protégé5 and the outlander feels just as peppy and a lot quieter. Last week I drove to Reno and was pleasantly surprised at the Outlanders hill climbing ability. Especially going over Donner summit at 7500ft, I could hold 80mph and only remember dropping into 3rd once. The engine seems to have the most power around 3000 rpm. I like the manual mode feature. It helps to use the engine to brake on the long descents by dropping it into 3rd. My mileage has been going up on every fill-up. So far with all city driving I get 21mpg. Last week on my trip to Nevada I got 24.5 mpg. I thought this was great since I drove 75-80 for the whole trip and it was hilly.
Interior-
I love the look of the interior. The leather seats and white gauges sure give the vehicle an upscale feel. The heated seats work well on the few cold days we have in California. On the downside the all black interior was *&#@ hot today when the temperature hit 86 degrees. I can’t imagine what it will be like with 100 degree days. The stereo has great bass and will not need upgrading at all. I do think the sunroof is a little small.
Problems-
I have 2 issues with the car. One, I have a small rattle coming from the rear when I hit bumps. The second is a slight pull to the right on the freeway. I am going to get this checked out when I get my first oil change.
Upgrades-
I bought a Thule bike rack the fits perfectly on the roof rails. The only problem is I can’t use the wind faring so the rack adds a lot of wind noise.
1. Yesterday's April 4th trip from Agawam MA to Salem MA. and back, I calculated 23 miles per gallon which was all highway driving with a 2003 Outlander with AWD.
2. In town driving I'm getting 20 miles per gallon.
My other impressions after 11,000 miles on the vehicle are as follows:
I have had no major problems with it. I do follow the recommended service schedule that is recommended by Mitsubishi. For what ever its worth, I do use Mobile 1 oil in the engine. I changed over to Mobile 1 after 6,000 miles on the engine. I have used Mobile 1 in all of my new cars since it fist came out.
I like the way the car handles on the road. It's rock solid. On a trip I find the seats to be comfortable.
The car was purchased from Howser Mitsubishi in Springfield MA. The only problems that I find at that dealership is that the service department is not open in the evenings and on Saturdays. I find that I have to take time off from work to get the car serviced. Another issue that I have with them is that even though you have the first appointment set for 8:00 in the morning, they do not take the car in until an hour later. They always have an excuse for not getting the car in on time as promised. That is my only complaint.
For those who trying to buy this car, please make sure to have a long test drive.
It is now running a lot better.
For those who has Outlander, you may need to check if your car is pulling to the left.
Good luck to you all. Thank you for this dicussion group, it really helps me out
"The agency downgraded Japan's Mitsubishi Motors despite its announcement of additional cost-cutting plans, saying the latest series of vehicle defects called into question the company's viability."
Steve, Host
Might help with fuel economy also, because you get more performance with less throttle play.
In the news, Mitsubishi boss says automaker must reconnect with U.S. consumers (Detroit Free Press)
Steve, Host
I'm waiting for the usual mega rebates to kick in at the end of the year though it might be too late to lift the sales.
I purchased an 04 Outlander for my wife who uses it in auto mode only. When I drive it in the city I use the shift mode & it is very effective in slowing the vehicle instead of using the brakes. Wish I could give a better long term review but we only have a little over 4000 miles on it so far.
So with all the neat features on it what does my wife like most? The styling, natch.
Having the manual-mode is great in the outlander, giving some thrill of a manual, I mostly us it to hold a lower gear when climbing hills or to scrub off speed. I don’t think it improves acceleration much but does give you more control.
I have had this vehicle since February and have had no problems and last week was amazed when I got 29mpg on a road trip.
The Outlander goes down the road well too. I've come to associate a very subtle torque feel with AWD and the Outlander is the most neutral AWD I've ever driven. But then I'm used to lower end AWD....Not BMW class. The brakes are good but I would not say outstanding. I think I detect some fluctuation in pedal position from time to time. It always stops straight and true though with little pedal pressure. I will bleed the lines at some point though just to be sure. The interior materials are on the same level as my other Mitsu products which were durable and that is good enough for me. I would classify them as not the worst and not the best.
This is my second vehicle with an automatic in 40+ years of driving. It seems to work just fine but I wish it was a stick. The + - thing is kind of amusing to me. Come on..its still not a stick! The paint is nice but they did not do a good job when they cleared the jambs for the trunk lid . It looks grainy and could/should have been done right.
Now we come to the engine...MIVEC? Kind of a big name for a system that only actuates the intakes? It is still basically the old 2.4 in many ways though. Iron block, caged main caps but a lot of subtle differences. Hopefully it has the reliability of my older 2.4's which were bullet proof. It starts and runs perfectly but I do have one MAJOR complaint. When it is at idle, it makes this annoying rolling noise that I can't pin down. It seems to come from the front (accessory drive) end of the engine. Sounds like boiling water bordering on a tinny rattle? It seems to go away as soon as comes off idle and it has not changed since I first noticed it. I wish I knew what it was and how to make it go away. The dealer says they all sound like that? Anybody else with a 2.4 MIVEC hear anything pesky at idle? Other than that the engine seems fine. It does have mechanical lifters which are adjustable. However, Mitsu makes no mention of maintenance adjustments and I wonder about that. I have never seen mechanical lifters that did not require attention at some point. All in all a good ride for the money. It was $18300 plus tax and did have the appearance package. IMHO, that’s fairly cheap for what you get. Would I do it again? Yes, if I felt confident enough in Mitsu being around for the life of the warranty. At the moment they seem a bit iffy but I think it would huge loss of cultural face if they fail. I believe they will do everything possible to prevent that. Mitsu Heavy is a part of Japanese history and such a loss would hopefully be intolerable.
Yeah, what the Hell, I do like the old Outlander....If it doesn't kick my butt there will be a bond.
Also, I got a crack in my windshield and the glass shop says they can only order a replacement through Mitsubishi. I hope that doesn't make it much more expensive. I'm enjoying the "free" scheduled maintenance, but otherwise my dealer's service has been less than impresive, so I'll let everyone know how it goes with this windshield issue.
I thinkon my car new moldings are required any time the window is removed, and that had to be oredered thru Mitsubishi directly which was probably $100 or so for the moldings alone..My lesson and advice is to get the windshield fixed before it comes unrepairable..I could have I just waited to long Sean
Mitsubishi Announces Future U.S. Product Plans (Inside Line)
Steve, Host
In fact, I've been scratching my head for a year wondering why more people don't buy them. Anyone else wonder why Outies are so under-appreciated? The ONLY complaint I ever read from professional reviewers was lack of power (2003 model, and that was addressed for 2004 with 20 hp increase). Positives were the design and quality, automanual transmission, ride and handling, and now the amazing warranty. I honestly believe more Honda, Toyota, Ford, Mazda, Hyundai, and Subaru people would choose the Outlander if they had a test drive. Jeep, too. It's a different category than Jeep as it's not a "real" off-roader, but 99% of those chicks in Liberties (and they are almost all women around here) ever go off road anyway. The "crossover" type really is more suited to the vast majority of buyers who ought to appreciate great handling and fuel economy.
I guess we'll just have to enjoy being unique.
I think there are more Isuzu dealers now than Mitsubishi's in my area (btw, I have both)
This will make this thing usable for skies and snowboards.
I did not see any cross bars on Outlanders roof racks. Waste of money and aluminum for an useless trim.
Thanks for any input,
Dan
If it wasn't for the lack of availability, I would probably be driving an XLS front drive model right now. Instead, I bought the Outlander's sportier and slightly less practical sister, an 04 Lancer Sportback Ralliart. Same engine, better handling, slightly better fuel economy, almost the same amount of cargo room, cheaper price, not as stylish and upscale on the outside although the tailights remind of a Volvo, and standard ABS and side airbags. This car was another one that was seriously underappreciated. Mitsu decided to kill it after only one year of sales
I am planning to buy a used 2004 XLS, but I need a complete roof rack for the winter sports gears.
Did not see any OUTL on the roads having cross bars on the roof rack, and this was the only inconvenient I had about this car. Otherwise it perfectly fits my needs.
I will look for the Yakima's.
Dan
Charley9 is correct - Ebay is typically a good place to look for these kinds of things.
Maybe this will help sales in North America:
Retail Whiz David Schembri Jumps From Mercedes to Mitsubishi (Inside Line)
Steve, Host